CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

“No!” I scream. The flames around me are burning my skin, but I don’t care. “No!”

There’s nothing I can do. I can’t escape from this. I can’t help Alec.

Do nothing, a tiny voice whispers to me. Close your eyes.

And so I do.

I close my eyes and picture the flames rippling away from my body. I picture the grass springing up where it’s been burnt away. I picture the dirt underneath the grass, and the rocks underneath the trees.

I feel the fire recede, its oppressive heat disappearing.

I open my eyes, and the fire is completely gone.

But how did I do that?

There’s no time to wonder. The Hunter who hurt Alec turns to me and raises his sword. His eyes are cold and cruel. I raise my hand, and my dad’s bracelet glows white hot against my wrist.

Ripping the bracelet off, I throw it, and, almost as if it were sentient and with a mission, it wraps around the Hunter’s hand. He yanks at it and curses, but it holds.

The Hunter stumbles, and then he’s on the ground, his sword lying out of